The Northwestern Quest endpoint allows users to transfer data to and from Northwestern's Quest High Performance computing cluster.
Setup
To transfer data to or from Quest, you must have a Quest account. Follow the linked instructions to request a Quest allocation.
Activating the Quest Endpoint
Once you have access to Quest, log into Globus using your Northwestern credentials.
Then navigate to the Northwestern Quest collection by searching for "Northwestern Quest" in the File Manager tab. Note that there are many similarly named endpoints. See the image below to help identify the correct endpoint.
You can also use this direct link to the Northwestern Quest Endpoint.
When you select the Northwestern Quest Collection, Globus will prompt you to authenticate. Click Continue.
Then, Globus will ask for consent to use your login credentials and ask you to pick your identity provider. Select Northwestern University.
After selecting Northwestern, you may see the Northwestern NetID login screen. Use your NetID and password to log in. If you have already logged in with your NetID in your browser recently, you might skip this step.
Finally you should see your home directory on Quest and can initiate file transfers from this location.
We recommend bookmarking the endpoint so it appears in your collections tab.
If you would like to access your projects directory, hit the up arrow to navigate to the parent directory
Then select projects and find the name of your project directory.
Extending Quest Endpoint activation
By default, this activation lasts for 10 days. After the 10 day period, Globus will ask you to reauthenticate when you try to access the endpoint. You can also extend the activation period by 10 days prior to the activation expiring.
To do this,
- Find the Northwestern Quest Endpoint in the File Manager window.
- Select the Manage Activation icon that looks like a power button at the bottom of the column between the file browser windows (red box)
- Click Extend Activation in the Endpoint Overview view for the managed endpoint.
- Globus will notify you that you must reauthenticate with your Northwestern NetID. Hit continue
- Globus will then ask you to select an identity provider. Select Northwestern University then click "Log On"
- You should see a message that says "Access certificate extended successfully" and tells you when the endpoint activation will expire. Click ok.
If you would like to create a stable endpoint that does not expire, you can create a Shared Collection on the Quest Endpoint. See Globus's How to Share Data Using Globus documentation for more information.
Need help?
For help using the Northwestern Quest Globus endpoint, contact globus-help@northwestern.edu
Also see our Research Data Management Guide for links to all of our help articles.
Research Data Management Support at Northwestern University
Research computing data services partners with the Office for Research, University Libraries and Galter Health Sciences Library to provide research data management support throughout the research process. Please see the Research Data Management and Sharing page for more information.